A place to nurture football talent in Nghe An province.

The match between Que Phong Youth Team and Quynh Luu Youth Team at the 2019 Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth Football Tournament. Photo: Duc Anh

P.V:Youth and Children's Football TournamentCupNghe An NewspaperWhat role do they play in the club's recruitment process?

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Nghia:PresentSLNAThe club has established 25 football training classes across 21 districts, towns, and cities in the province, with the function of searching for, persuading, testing, and training young players for the club. Through the training process at these satellite units, the young players will be assessed on their skills and footballing mindset at the main headquarters of SLNA Club. If they pass this final assessment, the athletes will sign official contracts with the Nghe An team.

For the past two years, the club has undergone changes to comply with the regulations and tournament schedules of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF). Accordingly, since 2021, SLNA has added a U9 class. This age group will participate in the National U9 Tournament, part of the VFF's youth football competition system. Therefore, we have expanded the age range for selection, choosing talented children from 8 years old and up. These children will receive accommodation, meals, and training at the club, just like other classes at the SLNA Youth Football Training Center.

Over the years, the Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth Football Tournament has provided SLNA Club, as well as other youth training centers across the country, with an additional channel to select truly talented athletes. To prepare for this tournament, local authorities have made quite serious preparations. Coaches there have diligently visited various facilities to select the most outstanding young players, bringing them back for training to create a quality team to participate in the tournament. The tournament's matches allow scouts to clearly assess the children's abilities. From there, we will attract them to participate in training classes at the center.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Nghia - Deputy General Director of SLNA Sports Joint Stock Company, Director of SLNA Youth Football Training Center, witnessed a training session of the SLNA U17 team before the team participated in the 2022 National U17 Qualifiers. Photo: Duc Anh

P.V: Based on what criteria will a player be noticed by scouts?

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Nghia:We base our selection on criteria such as physique, aptitude, and especially the children's footballing mindset. For example, a young player with the ball will have 3 or 4 options for making a pass; we will observe which point the player chooses to pass the ball to a teammate. Even if that pass doesn't reach a teammate, the scouts will still see the player's aptitude and footballing mindset. We also hope that the young players participating in this tournament will play with genuine enthusiasm, showcase their talents, and contribute to beautiful matches. That is the top priority that the organizing committee aims for.

P.V: How do you assess the importance of the Football League?DThe Nghe An Newspaper Youth and Children's Cup contributes to the development of football in the province in general andtWhat about sports in Nghe An province in particular?

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Nghia:The Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth and Children's Football Tournament is a long-standing tradition, part of the official tournament system of the Nghe An Sports Department. Over the years, the tournament has been organized in a very systematic, large-scale, and professional manner, significantly influencing the development of football in the localities. Through the tournament, a large pool of talented young football players has been created for youth football training centers nationwide to select outstanding athletes. Furthermore, the tournament provides a beneficial playground for children during the summer, allowing them to interact and learn from their peers. In addition, the tournament educates children about the noble virtues of the sport, helping them gain a better understanding of their new environment and thus comprehensively develop their skills as young people.

Having witnessed numerous tournaments organized by provinces and cities across the country, I confidently assert that the Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth and Children's Football Tournament is the highest-quality tournament, based on comparisons in many aspects, from organization and regulations to its appeal. Therefore, maintaining this tournament is absolutely essential for the development of football in our province.

The first criterion that youth football training centers use to select athletes is the children's footballing mindset. (Photo: Archival image)

P.V: The tournament was interrupted for two years due to the impact of the pandemic.SatisfiedHow does this affect youth football training centers?

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Nghia:The pandemic has disrupted all sporting activities in general, but it has had an even more severe impact on football. Young players have been without contact with the ball for a long time, which has hampered their talent development. This has significantly affected the process of nurturing talent for the province's football.

The cancellation of the tournament will also significantly impact the recruitment efforts of youth football training centers, especially SLNA Club. Through the tournament, we gain a closer, more realistic view of truly outstanding athletes to bring in and train as professional players. I am very happy that the tournament has returned, creating a great opportunity for children who want to pursue a professional football career, and also making it easier for scouts to find suitable players for their teams.

P.V: According to you,what conditionsHow can a team achieve good results in this year's tournament?

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Nghia:In my opinion, for a team to make an impact this season, they need to take it seriously, have a concrete plan to find talented players, those with genuine aptitude for their team. Secondly, they need a good training schedule and lesson plan to improve the young players' skills. Furthermore, they need to anticipate the players' peak performance to apply the right training methods. And finally, they must participate in the tournament with a relaxed attitude and give their all.

P.V: To ensure the tournament is a complete success and provides a beneficial playground for the children, what suggestions do you have?

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Nghia:It must be said that the Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth and Children's Football Tournament is a traditional event; its implementation has been refined over many years. Therefore, I think this year's tournament will be extremely successful. I hope that the teams will prepare thoroughly to create a tournament that attracts a large audience and becomes a football festival for the children. I have a small suggestion: the match schedule should be extended for some teams to allow them time to recover, thereby providing the audience with more exciting and beautiful matches.

Interviewer: Thank you for this interview!